Five California Mayors Call for Cleaner HD Trucks

The mayors of five cities near polluted freeway corridors are calling for cleaner heavy duty trucks along those corridors. Studies have shown that corridors such as the 710 freeway that run near their cities have some of the worst air quality in the nation.

Most of the region’s smog forming (or NOx) emissions come from the heavy duty transportation sector. Those most likely impacted are disadvantaged communities near or around major transportation corridors and ports. Studies also indicate that air pollution contributes to asthma, cancer and premature death, especially in children and the elderly.

South Gate Mayor Jorge Morales will announce the advent of a critical breakthrough solution, along with Commerce Mayor Lilia Leon, Maywood Mayor Eddie De La Riva, Bell Mayor Ali Saleh and Compton Mayor Aja Brown on Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. at South Gate Park at the intersection of Pinehurst and Tweedy streets in South Gate.

The five mayors will be joined by representatives from the California Energy Commission (CEC), the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) to explain this new solution to clean the air near and around their cities. They will also be joined by representatives from Cummins Westport, the maker of an engine that has recently been certified by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Environmental Protection Agency as 90% cleaner than traditional engines – the first “near zero” transportation technology ready to roll in the all-important heavy duty sector. The engine development funding came from the SCAQMD, CEC and SoCalGas.

Waste Management will also display one of its refuse trucks in a fleet of more than 4,500 natural gas trucks operating in North America with a Cummins Westport clean-burning engine.

The Waste Management trucks on the road today have nearly zero particulate emissions, cut greenhouse gas emissions by over 20 percent and are far quieter than their diesel counterparts.

Category: General Update, Green